Department of Endoscopy

Introduction of departments

The Department of Endoscopy, Hiroshima University Hospital (hereinafter referred to as the Department) uses endoscopy to diagnose and treat diseases and lesions. In September 2013, a new outpatient building was inaugurated at Hiroshima University Hospital, and the new Department was expansively launched on the first basement level of the building. The new Department is adjacent to the Department of Radiology. The area of the Department is 1,100 m2 and contains seven examination rooms for the gastrointestinal tract and two rooms for endoscopy using fluoroscopy with sufficient space (one of which is a negative air pressure room). The endoscopic images from all the examination rooms and the room conditions can be monitored from a separate monitoring room. A functional layout can then be determined, in which flow lines of patients are separated from those of medical workers. Sufficient spaces are included for an equipment storage room, sterilizing and cleaning room, waiting room, recovery room, dressing room, restroom, and pre-treatment room for colonoscopy, i.e., complete facilities are provided. Each examination room is equipped with the latest high-resolution video-endoscopy system. Thus, the Department became one of Japanese leading endoscopy units in terms of facility.

The Department currently performs gastrointestinal endoscopy, hepato-biliary-pancreatic endoscopy, and bronchoscopy. Doctors belonging to the Department of Endoscopy and the Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism are in charge of gastrointestinal endoscopy and hepato-biliary-pancreatic endoscopy, and doctors belonging to the Department of Respiratory Medicine are in charge of bronchoscopy.

The Department performs Japan’s and the world’s foremost endoscopic diagnoses and treatments for gastrointestinal lesions/diseases, and its accomplishments have been evaluated internationally. Many foreign and domestic doctors visit this Department to further their education. In particular, our endoscopic treatments for early esophageal, pharyngeal, gastric, small intestinal, and colorectal carcinomas have received high acclaim from experts. Staffs in the Department carefully examine even large tumors using the latest equipment, and radical treatment using endoscopic resection without a surgical operation is often performed if endoscopic resection is applicable. The Department also positively performs diagnoses and treatments for lesions/diseases of the small intestine using capsule or double-balloon endoscopy. Therefore, patients can comfortably undergo advanced endoscopy for all gastroenterological lesions/diseases.

Head of the department

Shinji Tanaka, MD, PhD
Professor
e-mail: colon@hiroshima-u.ac.jp

Endoscopy and Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University & Department of Endoscopy, Hiroshima University Hospital

History
1984: Graduate of Hiroshima University School of Medicine
1984: 1st Dept of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Research fellow
1991: National Cancer Center Hospital (Tokyo), Clinical Resident
1993: 1st Dept of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Research Associate
1998: Associate Professor, Dept of Endoscopy, Hiroshima University Hospital
2000: Director, Dept of Endoscopy, Hiroshima University Hospital
2007: Professor, Dept of Endoscopy, Hiroshima University Hospital & Endoscopy and Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University

Members of the board
- Fellow of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE)
- International member of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE)
- Fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG)
- Director of the Japan Digestive Disease Week (JDDW)
- Director/instructor of the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society (JGES)
- Councilor/instructor of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology (JSGE)
- Director/instructor of the Japanese Gastroenterological Association (JGA)
- Executive of the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR)
- Director/instructor of the Japan Society of Coloproctology (JSCP)
- Director of the Japan Society of Colon Examination (JSCE)
- Director/instructor of the Japanese Association for Capsule Endoscopy (JACE)
- Councilor of Japanese Gastric Cancer Association (JGCA)
- Member of the Japanese Cancer Association (JCA)
- Member of the Japan Society of Clinical Oncology (JSCO)
- Education Committee Member of World Endoscopy Organization (WEO)
- International Editorial Board Member of “Gastrointestinal Endoscopy”
- Reviewer Board Member of “Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology”
- Editorial board member of “Oncology”
- Editorial Board Member of “Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology”
- Contributing Associate Editors-in-Chief of “World Journal of Gastroenterology”
- Editorial Board Member of “World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy”
- Editorial Board Member of “Case Reports in Gastrointestinal Medicine”
- Editorial Review Board Member of International Journal of Diagnostic Imaging
- Associate Editor of Hiroshima Journal of Medical Sciences
- Editorial Board Member of JSM Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- Editorial Review Board Member of Endoscopy International Open (EIO)
- Associate Editor of “Journal of the Anus, Rectum and Colon (JARC) ”
- Editor/Reviewer Board Member of “Austin Journal of Gastroenterology”

Main examinations and treatments

1. Diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancers (in the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine)
Following advancement of the video-endoscopy system, gastrointestinal cancer can be detected at its early stage. Department staffs use a high-resolution endoscope to examine patients and perform dye-spraying endoscopic and magnifying endoscopic observations for lesions as necessary. Thus, gastrointestinal cancer is characterized with high accuracy.

2. Endoscopic ultrasonography
Ultrasonography is performed for the gastrointestinal tract using endoscopy. The depths of cancer invasion and submucosal tumors can be determined.

3. Treatment for early gastrointestinal cancers
The Department provides radical treatments for gastrointestinal cancers that are considered not to have metastasized (superficial esophageal, early gastric, early small intestinal, and early colorectal cancers) using an endoscope. Department staffs also use magnifying endoscopic observation, image-enhanced endoscopy (IEE) such as narrow band imaging (NBI) and blue laser imaging (BLI), and endoscopic ultrasonography to perform preoperative diagnostics with high accuracy and positively administer endoscopic treatment based on an accurate diagnosis.

4. Diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases
Inflammatory bowel diseases include infectious enteritis, drug-induced enteritis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. The causes of infectious enteritis and drug-induced enteritis have been elucidated, but those of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease have not. Department staffs make advanced diagnoses for these diseases using magnifying endoscopic observation, image-enhanced endoscopy (NBI and BLI), and endoscopic ultrasonography.

5. Diagnosis of reflux esophagitis
Reflux esophagitis may cause heartburn. Inflammation occurs when gastric acid regurgitates into the esophagus. If reflux esophagitis continues over the long term, the esophagus may become stenosed. Department staffs also perform functional examination such as internal pressure measurements.

6. Diagnosis and treatment of a gastroduodenal ulcer
A gastroduodenal ulcer, which may cause hemorrhage and perforation, is cured by the administration of a gastric acid secretion inhibitor or removal of bacteria from the stomach (Helicobacter pylori). Endoscopic hemostasis is performed in cases of bleeding.

7. Treatment of gastrointestinal stenosis
Gastrointestinal stenosis has various causes, such as cancer and cicatricial stricture after endoscopic treatment. Bougienage, balloon dilation, and stent placement are performed for gastrointestinal stenosis.

8. Diagnosis and treatment of small intestine lesions/ diseases
The entire small intestine can be examined using double-balloon enteroscopy. Department staffs perform endoscopic diagnoses of small intestine lesions/diseases and histological diagnoses using biopsy as well as balloon dilation, endoscopic hemostasis, and polypectomy.

9. Capsule endoscopy
The small intestine can be examined using a capsule endoscopy (CE) with a width of 11 mm and length of 26 mm. The CE is swallowed with a glass of water after fasting, and it moves forward in the gastrointestinal tract because of peristalsis. No abnormal sensations, such as uneasiness, occur owing to passage of the CE. Therefore, the small intestine can be examined while a patient performs their daily activities.

In January 2014, the National Health Insurance scheme began offering coverage for expenses incurred in undergoing colonic CE. Department staffs can currently perform colon CE. However, the National Health Insurance scheme can only cover patients into whom an endoscope is difficult to insert during conventional colonoscopy.